What is Contac Overdose?

• Contac is a combination drug that is used for treating flu and symptoms of common cold. It helps relieve symptoms such as sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, itching, sneezing, and watery eyes
• The medication is also used to offer relief from allergies and associated symptoms, ear congestion, and from pain and fever
• Contac Overdose is the accidental or intentional intake of the drug in dosage higher than prescribed values. 
• The condition is diagnosed based upon the clinical history, combination of signs and symptoms, and additional tests (that may include, in some cases, radiological studies and laboratory tests)

What are the Causes of Contac Overdose?

• Contac Overdose is caused by intake of Contac containing drug in dosage that is higher than prescribed
• Any of the following ingredients contained in the medication, which vary depending on the specific type of medicine, could be dangerous in large quantities. These include:
  • Acetaminophen
  • Chlorpheniramine
  • Dextromethorphan hydrobromide
  • Diphenhydramine hydrochloride
  • Phenylpropanolamine
  • Pseudoephedrine hydrochloride
• This intake could be accidental, or in some cases intentional, to bring self-harm
• Even though Contac is a branded product, the ingredients that make the drug may be found in other herbal products too

Note: The drug can interact with other prescribed or non-prescribed medications in the body. Such interactions may enhance the therapeutic effects of the drug or other medications being taken, resulting in undesired side effects (such as an overdose).

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Contac Overdose?

The signs and symptoms of Contac Overdose can vary from one individual to another. It may be mild in some and severe in others. Several systems of the body may be affected.

The signs and symptoms of Contac Overdose may include

• Fever
• Nausea and vomiting
• Difficulty in urinating; difficulty in emptying the urinary bladder
• Irregular or rapid heartbeat
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Muscular pain, spasms in the muscles
• Increased nervousness, feeling drowsy, hallucinating
• Disorientation, delirium, being over-excited
• Depression, anxiety, and increased heart-rate
• Yellow eyes
• Dilated pupils and blurred vision
• Shaking or tremors; seizures
• Coma

How is First Aid administered for Contac Overdose?

First Aid tips for Contac Overdose:

• Call 911 (or your local emergency number), if the affected individual shows symptoms of, or is suspected of Contac Overdose
• Call the Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222 (or your local poison control center) for further instructions
• Provide them with information such as dosage, type of drug taken, strength and time of ingestion of medication, age, weight and general health status of affected individual
• Confirm that the airways are protected; also, ensure breathing and the presence of pulse
• Stay with the affected individual until medical help arrives
• Avoid any home remedies, which may only worsen the condition
• Take individual to emergency room (ER) for further treatment
• Always try to take the medication strip/bottle/container to the ER

The emergency medical health professional might perform the following steps towards treating the condition:

• Conduct blood and urine tests, obtain an electrocardiogram (ECG), and undertake imaging scans, as needed
• Gastric lavage for elimination of drug from the stomach (irrigation using special solutions)
• Administer activated charcoal to avoid absorbance of drug in the body
• Administer laxatives for elimination of drug from the body
• Medically manage serious symptoms, such as seizures and irregular heart rate
• Provide breathing support, if necessary
• Administer fluids by an intravenous drip line

Who should administer First Aid for Contac Overdose?

First aid for Contac Overdose is administered by healthcare professionals.

• The individual who overdosed, or someone near, should call 911 for emergency assistance (or the local emergency number)
• They should also call the poison control center at 1-800-222-1222 (or the local poison control center) and follow instructions

What is the Prognosis of Contac Overdose?

• The prognosis of Contac Overdose is dependent on the amount of drug consumed, time between overdose and treatment, as well as general health status of the patient
• If the individual can recover from the symptoms with adequate medication and early support, the outcome is generally good. In most cases, the prognosis is good
• In case of severe symptoms including liver damage (from excess acetaminophen in the product), it may considerably worsen the outcome. Severe cases may result in fatalities, particularly from heart rhythm disturbances

In general, overdoses are common situations in the emergency departments. A majority of the cases are often not fatal when appropriate treatment is given.

How can Contac Overdose be Prevented?

Contac Overdose can be prevented by:

• Always taking the right dose of medication at recommended times
• Avoiding drugs that might interact with Contac
• Talking to your healthcare provider if recommended dose of Contac does not provide adequate relief
• DO NOT continue to take medications beyond the prescribed dose duration before checking with and obtaining permission of the consulting physician
• Refraining from self-medication
• Avoiding alcohol while taking any medication
• DO NOT recommend or share medications you are taking with others who may have similar or near similar health conditions
• DO NOT give any cold medication to children before seeking the advice of a physician
• Exercising caution while taking multiple drugs with Contac
• Keeping medications out of reach of children in child-proof containers
• For older individuals and those who tend to be forgetful, medications should be stored in single dose containers with time labels, to avoid multiple dosage
• Monitor intake of this drug especially in patients, who have depression or harbor suicidal thoughts and behavior

It is important to give your healthcare provider a complete list of prescription and non-prescription medications that are being currently taken. This will help them in assessing the possible drug interactions within various medications and help avoid/prevent accidental or unintentional toxic drug effects. Specifically, individuals who have recently been on, or are presently on monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) have to strictly avoid the use of any Contac medication.

What are certain Crucial Steps to be followed?

• Call 911 (or your local emergency number) for emergency assistance, if symptoms are life-threatening
• Call Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222 (or the local poison control center) and follow the recommend steps
• It would be helpful if the following information is readily available:
  • Type, dosage and time of administration of medication
  • Age and weight of the individual
  • And, the overall health status of the individual